778 VETEEINAEY HYGIENE 



which in the speculative subject under discussion we are 

 compelled to assume as an approximation to the truth. 



DISEASES AND ACCIDENTS DUE TO WOKK 



As might be expected this is rather a formidable group of 

 affections, as it includes among other things the question 

 of lameness ; the diseases may be classified as those of 

 respiration, digestion, and locomotion. 



When an animal with a heated and wet skin is left 

 standing on the road with a cold wind blowing, catarrh, 

 pleurisy, or pneumonia may result. It is to guard against 

 these, among other troubles, that we have insisted on 

 horses being got in condition for work, and further, on 

 working horses being clipped. Both of these as preventive 

 measures are of the utmost importance, for the conditioned 

 and clipped horse sweats slightly, and the risk is conse- 

 quently very small. 



Protection from the weather should be afforded all 

 draught horses, by means of a loin cloth arranged to 

 cover the back, loins, and quarters. It should rest on 

 the harness rather than on the skin, so that air may exist 

 between it and the skin, and in this way sweating from an 

 impervious covering is not produced ; if allowed to rest on 

 the skin the part is kept bathed in sweat. 



Animals which have been out on a cold, or especially 

 wet and cold, day, should receive particular care on their 

 return from work. This should include thorough and 

 rapid drying, a good warm bed of straw provided, the 

 chill taken off the drinking water, and a good feed provided. 

 If the latter is refused some gruel should be prepared and 

 given in the ordinary way ; if the horse will take this with 

 his drinking water so much the better. 



If the horses wear rugs, provision may be made before 

 the animals return to have the rugs aired before a fire, so 

 that a warm dry rug is available at once. 



If sufficient labour does not exist to dry the horses 

 rapidly (it takes two men to a horse) they had better at 



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